TODAY'S FEAST

This is a daily writing done by a Native American woman. Joyce uses the NA words for God and the Holy Spirit such asCreator and Great Spirit, but I know from her writing that she is a Christian. You will see why I say this when you read her writing for today.

November 19

Daily Feast

It is lovely to think of you when leaves and grasses are all shades of chrysanthemums and sunshine is golden through the autumn haze.

It is soothing to remember you when all is quiet in the midnight hour, when it is velvet or bathed in silver.

It is comforting to know your faith overcomes your fears, that peace permeates your whole existence. You are aware that nothing equals the peace that passes all understanding. It is with gratitude I know you are wise beyond human comprehension - and kind, even when there is reason not to be. You are the Great Spirit, the endless, loving Presence that blesses us in every hour.

~ The Creator ordained that people
       should live to an old age. ~

    HANDSOME LAKE - SENECA, 1800s

'A Cherokee Feast of Days, Volume II' by

Joyce Sequichie Hifler

LORD PROP US UP...

I have needed this many times!

LORD PROP US UP...

Every time I am asked to pray, I think of the old fellow who always prayed, 'Lord, prop us up on our leanin' side.' After hearing him pray that prayer many times, someone asked him why he prayed that prayer so fervently.

He answered, 'Well sir, you see, it's like this.... I got an old barn out back. It's been there a long time; it's withstood a lot of weather; it's gone through a lot of storms, and it's stood for many years.

It's still standing. But one day I noticed it was leaning to one side a bit. So, I went and got some pine poles and propped it up on its leaning side so it wouldn't fall.

Then I got to thinking about that and how much I was like that old barn.. I've been around a long time..I've withstood a lot of life's storms. I've withstood a lot of bad weather in life, I've withstood a lot of hard times, and I'm still standing too. But I find myself leaning to one side from time to time, so I like to ask the Lord to prop us up on our leaning side, 'cause I figure a lot of us get to leaning at times.

Sometimes we get to leaning toward anger, leaning toward bitterness, leaning toward hatred, leaning toward cussing, leaning toward a lot of things that we shouldn't . So we need to pray, 'Lord, prop us up on our leaning side, so we will stand straight and tall again, to glorify the Lord.''

If you stare at this barn for a second you will see who will help us stand straight and tall again..Do You See HIM?

Shared by Corinne

An Early Christmas Card

 A cleverly done poem that we need to heed! 

Is this what we are coming to????

       Please read and remember!!! We do not want to replace Christmas cards with  something like this!!

Twas the Month before Christmas

Twas the month before Christmas

When all through our land,

Not a Christian was praying

Nor taking a stand.

Why the PC Police had taken away

The reason for Christmas - no one could say.

The children were told by their schools not to sing

About Shepherds and Wise Men and Angels and things.

It might hurt people's feelings, the teachers would say

December 25th is just a ' Holiday'.

Yet the shoppers were ready with cash,
checks and credit

Pushing folks down to the floor just to get it!

CDs from Madonna, an X BOX, an I-Pod

Something was changing, something quite odd!

  Retailers promoted

                                                          Ramadan and Kwanzaa 

                                                       In hopes to sell books
by Franken and Fonda.

                  As Targets were hanging their trees upside down

        At Lowe's the word Christmas - was no where to be found.
At K-Mart and Staples and Penny's and Sears
You won't hear the word Christmas; it won't touch your ears.

Inclusive, sensitive, Di-ver-si-ty

Are words that were used to intimidate me.

Now Daschle, Now Darden, Now Sharpton, Wolf Blitzen

On Boxer, on Rather, on Kerry, on Clinton!

At the top of the Senate, there arose such a clatter

To eliminate Jesus, in all public matter.

And we spoke not a word,

as they took away our faith

Forbidden to speak of salvation and grace.

The true Gift of Christmas
was exchanged and discarded

The reason for the season, stopped before it started.

            So as you celebrate 'Winter Break' under your 'Dream Tree'          

 Sipping your Starbucks, listen to me.

Choose your words carefully, choose what you say

Shout MERRY CHRISTMAS,

not Happy Holidays!

Please, all Christians join together and

wish everyone you meet

MERRY CHRISTMAS

 Christ is The Reason for the Christ-mas Season!

Halloween at the Nursing Home

HALLOWEEN AT THE HOME

“Kids” all excited

Wait for the moment to come

When costumes are donned.

Beautiful “children”
On the other side of life

Grabbing for some fun.

A red haired witch,
A green haired one who snoozes,
And a bumble bee.


A geisha girl so fine
A hippie with curly hair
Wearing a peace sign.


Wheelchairs lining up
Pretending they’re what they were
Before the years flew.




One who walks in step
Sweet innocent butterfly
Simple as a child.


So off we all roll
Halloween march through the home
Who will win a prize?


Nurses clapping
Others in beds sleeping sound
Merrily we move.


Party is ready
Everyone smiling of mem’ries
Of days long ago.


At the nursing home
The children are bigger here
Taken care of now.


Looking over each
One wonders what they’re thinking
What they understand.


Why do they have to
Be here where they seem adrift
No wills of their own.


Sad comic relief
In their costumes as if young
Smile in confusion.


Why does God allow
Sad end for the elderly
Are they in His plan?


Before time began
He knew what their lives would be
How they would end up.


End up – a sad word
Too tragic for what is real
The glory that will come.


They’re waiting for Him
Hope they know He’ll come for them
When His time is right.

What Can Be Learned at a Nursing Home

On Halloween afternoon I went to the nursing home where my friend’s Mom is a resident. We walked into the front foyer, and there they all had gathered. They were sitting in their wheelchairs…all dressed in some sort of Halloween costume. Some had a look on their faces that said they did not have a clue. Some looked hopeful that something would happen soon. One lady sat there with her mouth open wide and her eyes closed in her green wig and witch’s hat.


My friend’s mom is young, but she is suffering from the results of a stroke. Jo’s mind is fine. It must be hard for her to be there trapped in a body that only has one side working. Still, our little Jo Bumble Bee looked happy to be a part of this Halloween. Her friend, Virginia, was there as well. Her challenges are not so obvious. She was able to walk during the Halloween parade around the corridors of the home and into the day room where activities were held. Virginia was a butterfly…or so she said. She had on a lavender robe with matching wings, a crown, and a wand. I believed her to be a princess, but what I believed did not count. She WAS a butterfly. She was as hopeful in her behavior as a young girl waiting for darkness to come so that she could go out to Trick or Treat.


I looked around and I learned something from that Halloween Celebration in the nursing home. These people were living their lives with as much dignity as their circumstances would allow them. There was beauty and sweetness all around. The costume march was something to look forward to and enjoy. It was not the Halloween they had when they were young, but it was what they had now, and they were happy to have it. This is what life is all about. Taking joy in the things that you can have, not worrying whether it is shadow of what you had been in the past. Imminent to all who grow old is the promise of glory to come. There we will be blessed with a life to which this present life does not hold a candle.

In Jeremiah 29:10-12 we find the words…

“This is what the LORD says: ‘When seventy years are completed for Babylon,

I will come to you and fulfill my gracious promise to bring you back to this place.

For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you

and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.’”

This is the final plan God has for us. We will not have to look back.


Corinne Mustafa
Written on 11/1/07

Ministry

MAGNOLIAS

I spent the week before my daughter's June wedding running last-minute trips to the Caterer, florist, tuxedo shop, and the church about forty miles away. As happy as I was that Patsy was marrying a good Christian young man, I felt laden with responsibilities As I watched my budget dwindle. ..

So many details, so many bills, and so little time. My son Jack was away at college, but he said he would be there to walk his younger sister down the aisle, taking the place of His dad who had died a few years before. He teased Patsy, saying he'd wanted to give Her away since she was about three years old!

To save money, I gathered blossoms from several friends who had large magnolia trees. Their luscious, creamy-white blooms and slick green eaves would make beautiful arrangements against the rich dark wood inside the church. After the rehearsal dinner The night before the wedding, we banked the podium area and choir loft with magnolias. As we left just before midnight, I felt tired but satisfied this would be the best wedding any bride had ever had! The music, the ceremony, the reception - and especially the Flowers - would be remembered for years.

The big day arrived - the busiest day of my life - and while her bridesmaids helped Patsy to dress, her fiance Tim walked with me to the sanctuary to do a final check. When we opened the door and felt a rush of hot air, I almost fainted; and then I saw them - all the Beautiful white flowers were black. Funeral black. An electrical storm during the night had knocked out the air conditioning system, and on that hot summer day, the flowers had wilted and died.

I panicked, knowing I didn't have time to drive back to our hometown, gather more flowers, and return in time for the wedding. Tim turned to me. 'Edna, can you get more Flowers? I'll throw away these dead ones and put fresh flowers in these arrangements.' I mumbled, 'Sure,' as he be-bopped down the hall toput on his cuff links.

Alone in the large sanctuary, I looked up at the dark wooden beams in the arched ceiling. 'Lord,' I prayed, 'please help me. I don't know anyone in this town. Help me find someone willing to give me flowers - in a hurry!' I scurried out praying for four things: the blessing of white magnolias, courage to find them in an unfamiliar yard, safety from any dog that may bite my leg, and a nice person who would not get out a shotgun when I asked to cut his tree to shreds.

As I left the church, I saw magnolia trees in the distance. I approached a house...No dog in sight.. knocked on the door and an older man answered. So far so good. No shotgun. When I stated my plea the man beamed, 'I'd be happy to!' He climbed a stepladder and cut large boughs and handed them down to me. Minutes later, as I lifted the last armload into my car trunk, I said, 'Sir, you've made the mother of a bride happy today.'

No, Ma'am,' he said. 'You don't understand what'shappening here.''What?' I asked. 'You see, my wife of sixty-seven years died on Monday. On Tuesday I received friends at the funeral home, and on Wednesday. .. . He paused. I saw tears welling up in his eyes. 'On Wednesday I buried her.' He looked away. 'On Thursday most of my out-of-town relatives went back home, and on Friday- yesterday - my children left.'

I nodded.

'This morning,' he continued, 'I was sitting in my den crying out loud. I miss her so much. For the last sixteen years, as her health got worse, she needed me. But now nobody needs me. This morning I cried, 'Who needs an eighty-six-year-old wore-out man? Nobody!' I began to cry louder. 'Nobody needs me!' About that time, you knocked, and said, 'Sir, I need you.'

I stood with my mouth open.

He asked, 'Are you an angel? The way the light shone around your head into my dark living room....'I assured him I was no angel.He smiled. 'Do you know what I was thinking when I handed you those magnolias?'

'No.'

'I decided I'm needed. My flowers are needed. Why, I might have a flower ministry! I could give them to everyone! Some caskets at the funeral home have no flowers. People need flowers at times like that and I have lots of them. They're all over the backyard! I can give them to hospitals, churches - all sorts of places. You know what I'm going to do? I'm going to serve the Lord until the day He calls me home!'

I drove back to the church, filled with wonder. On Patsy's wedding day, if anyone had asked me to encourage someone who was hurting, I would have said, 'Forget it! It's my only daughter's wedding, for goodness' sake! There is no way I can minister to anyone today.'

But God found a way. Through dead flowers.

'Life is not the way it's supposed to be. It's the way it is. The way you cope with it is what makes the difference.'

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Look around. You never know when or where you will find the ministry that God has planned for you or for someone's life that He touches through you.

This is what happened to the dinosaurs!

PLEASE SCROLL DOWN

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The Very First Senior Moment!!!

5 Finger Prayer

This is beautiful -- and it is surely worth making the 5-Finger Prayer a part of our lives. It is not a new one but surely one to help us direct our prayers. Enjoy!

1. Your thumb is nearest to you. So begin your prayers by praying for those closest to you. They are the easiest to remember. To pray for our loved ones is, as C. S. Lewis
once said, a "sweet duty."


2. The next finger is the pointing finger. Pray for those who teach, instruct and heal. This includes teachers, doctors, and ministers. They need support and wisdom
in pointing others in the right direction. Keep them in your prayers.


3. The next finger is the tallest finger. It reminds us of our leaders. Pray for the president, leaders in business and industry, and administrators. These people shape
our nation and guide public opinion. They need God's guidance.


4. The fourth finger is our ring finger. Surprising to
many is the fact that this is our weakest finger; as any
piano teacher will testify. It should remind us to pray for
those who are weak, in trouble or in pain. They need
your prayers day and night. You cannot pray too much
for them.


5. And lastly comes our little finger; the smallest finger
of all, which is where we should place ourselves in relation
to God and others. As the Bible says, "The least shall be
the greatest among you," Your pinkie should remind you
to pray for yourself.

By the time you have prayed for the other four groups, your own needs will be put into proper perspective and you will be able to pray for yourself more effectively. Should you find it hard to get to sleep tonight, just remember the homeless family who has no bed to lie in.

Boiling and Wisdom

The Carrot - The Egg - and The Coffee Bean

This is a story that I read on the Internet. My answer follows.

A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved a new one arose. Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water. In the first, she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs and the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil without saying a word. In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her daughter, she asked, "Tell me, what do you see?" "Carrots, eggs, and coffee," she replied. She brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. She then asked her to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg. Finally, she asked her to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled, as she tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked. "What's the point, mother?" Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity -boiling water- but each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard and unrelenting. However after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior. But, after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened. The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water they changed the water. "Which are you?" she asked her daughter. " When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?" Think of this: Which am I? Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity, do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength? Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, breakup, financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and a hardened heart? Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you. When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest do you elevate to another level? How do you handle adversity?

ARE YOU A CARROT, AN EGG, OR A COFFEE BEAN?

My answer...

I think that this is a great story. I like the point it illustrates. Here are some of my reflections on this. I would like to say that I am always the coffee bean. Unfortunately that is not always the case.

The adversity can come like a Shakespearean tragedy. When to my dismay the study of Shakespeare was forced on me in high school and later in college I found that tragedy (or adversity) has two different origins. One type is caused by living your life in the free will of others. So, if someone near to you .is having a bad day you are caught up in it through no fault of your own. You become stuck in the enactment of that person's God given free will. When the person is having a good day we bask in the shared sunshine. When the day is not good we are under the same cloud as the other person as well. And our life can be affected by the person in ways that are good and in ways that are not so good. The other kind of tragedy/adversity is caused by our own lack of judgment. What happens in this case is the result of our own exercise or free will and bad choices.

Whatever the cause of our trials and adversity and whatever kind it is we will react and hopefully learn and grow. As I said I would like to think that I am always like the coffee bean. The reality is that - for me anyway - my reactions are usually a combination of all three - the carrot, the egg, and the coffee bean. Adversity stretches us to the limit in many cases, and we end up so many times like a "Push Me-Pull You." However, I do not think it is bad to react in any one of the ways listed. We are a combination of many emotions, hurts, loves, experiences, and desires, and these are molded by what we learn. Unfortunately, it seems as though we do not pay adequate attention unless we are dealing with difficult situations. This is how we learn. The Lord uses these times when our attention is at full strength to show us things that we would otherwise miss. I feel that each reaction can be appropriate depending on the situation. We are each - the carrot - the egg - and the coffee bean - depending on what the boiling is about.

For instance, we can be in a situation because we have been too dense (hard like a carrot - and my hair is red... ..) to see what it is about or to get the lesson. It can be either of the Shakespearean types of adversity. However, because of hardness we have been unable to see the truth we need, and the boiling softens us enough to be able to receive the learning the Lord is trying to teach. As we become softer, we can see and receive the input He is giving us. At other times we are an egg - seeming hard to outward appearances - but inside a mush of emotions and being pulled as strongly as the moon affects the tides. We look as though we have it all together, but inside we are a mess. We are so scattered and affected by our upset or emotions that we cannot even really know what we think or what is right. In this type of boiling the Lord helps us to toughen up and take control of our emotions. In our new less fluid state we can receive the lesson and arrive at a conclusion. The danger for the carrot or the egg is that we can go too far in the opposite direction, and when we do we are as lost as when we started.

Then there is the coffee bean. Thank God for the morning that my husband gives me every day. It is my start to the day. The idea in the situation we are discussing is to be like the coffee bean. To be boiled by the adversity in such a way that we quickly grow into an understanding of the lesson. We change so much ourselves that when we do the world is also changed. I think that most people strive for this. When we achieve it we become very wise, and that wisdom affects all around us. However, I do believe that as we grow towards the wisdom and understanding that enables us to be that coffee bean the Lord gives us many carrot and egg experiences along the way. Very few are like Solomon who seems to have arrived at the coffee bean stage without the other type of boilings.

God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore. Solomon's wisdom was greater than the wisdom of all the men of the East, and greater than all the wisdom of Egypt.

1KI 4:29-30

Maybe we see Solomon when all the boiling had already been accomplished - kind of like the overnight star who rose to fame after parking cars for twelve years before being discovered. Maybe Solomon had been parking chariots for his dad, David, and going through the refining boil for a great part of his life too. When we do meet Solomon he has the presence of mind to ask the Lord for wisdom. He does not ask for riches or fame. Maybe he had had his own boiling experiences as a carrot and as an egg. When he pens the book of Proverbs he has arrived at the coffee bean stage. He has wisdom, and he can change the world. And as he does this he also enjoys riches and fame as well. This gives me hope that I will someday be able to reach a stage where adversity turns me into a coffee bean, and that I can then start to change the world. I do think that this ability comes and goes as we grow and I thank God for His unending work in me through the boiling. Hopefully, as I continue to boil I will remember to ask God to give me wisdom - not to just give me a quick fix to the specific cause of my boiling.

Please read Proverbs 2:1-15

Blessings

Corinne

Yes, God was there!

I am adding this link because it shows the presence of God even in the midst of the horror of 9/11/01. On faith we know he is always with us but it is so powerful when we see visible evidence of His loving presence.

http://www.september11news.com/Mysteries1.htm

'MEET ME IN THE STAIRWELL' ...GOD WAS THERE

You say you will never forget where you were when you heard the news On September 11, 2001. Neither will I.

I was on the 110th floor in a smoke filled room with a man who called his wife to say 'Good-Bye.' I held his fingers steady as he dialed. I gave him the peace to say, 'Honey, I am not going to make it, but it is OK..I am ready to go.'

I was with his wife when he called as she fed breakfast to their children. I held her up as she tried to understand his words and as she realized he wasn't coming home that night.

I was in the stairwell of the 23rd floor when a woman cried out to Me for help. 'I have been knocking on the door of your heart for 50 years!' I said. 'Of course I will show you the way home - only believe in Me now.'

I was at the base of the building with the Priest ministering to the injured and devastated souls. I took him home to tend to his Flock in Heaven. He heard my voice and answered.

I was on all four of those planes, in every seat, with every prayer. I was with the crew as they were overtaken. I was in the very hearts of the believers there, comforting and assuring them that their faith has saved them.

I was in Texas , Virginia , California , Michigan , Afghanistan . I was standing next to you when you heard the terrible news.

Did you sense Me?

I want you to know that I saw every face. I knew every name - though not all knew Me. Some met Me on the 86th floor. Some sought Me with their last breath. ome couldn't hear Me calling to them through the smoke and flames; 'Come to Me... this way... take my hand.' Some chose, for the final time, to ignore Me. But, I was there.

I did not place you in the Tower that day. You may not know why, but I do. However, if you were there in that explosive moment in time, would you have reached for Me?

Sept. 11, 2001, was not the end of the journey for you. But someday your journey will end. And I will be there for you as well. Seek Me now while I may be found. Then, at any moment, you know you will be 'ready to go.'

I will be in the stairwell of your final moments.

God

GOD

More Than A Friend

I am your friend

on a beautiful journey

our friendship like a small vessel

carries us over the waves of our caring

our many roles to each other

reverse as the tides

kindred as

sibling - teacher - helper - parent - friend

but we know we are so very much more

precious pilgrimage of our hearts

Meeting A Friend

Days and weeks and years have passed
And you have become so dear
I wait and wait till we can meet
We do and I’m filled with cheer.

We laugh and play like little children
And do what we desire
It’s so much fun to be with you
That is something I require.

But best of all is what I see
And feel whenever you’re around
Is how blessed I am to have a friend
In whom I see godliness abound

And I know that God has given me
A friend as great as you
To have and love and be free with
A gift of God so true.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Ultimate Friend

Thinking of what friendship is
What I hold to my heart
Qualities that I look for

Truthfulness,
Caring
Dependability
Help
Patience
Steadfastness
Sweetness
Humor
Affability
Goodness
Love
Just
Compassionate
Faithful

Many on the list
are found in my dearest friends

Truthfulness
to say what I need to hear

Caring
enough to do just that

Dependable
knowing I can call them any time

Help
when ever I am needing it

Patience
with my many flaws

Steadfastness
to beliefs of right and wrong

Sweetness
that touches my heart with joy

Humor
which I can count on for a giggle

Affability
that shows me I am a friend

Goodness
seen in how they treat me and others

Love
of others seen in their good works

Just
and fair in thought and word and deed

Compassionate
enough to help those in need

and

Faithfulness
even when I don’t deserve it

I can think of so many friends
Who possess so many of these qualities
I have been blessed in those who I can call
My friend.

But the very best Friend of all
The One who is never far from me
Possesses all of these and more

Omnipresent
Omnipotent
Eternal
Breath of life
Lover of my soul
Keeper of my heart
Protector of my life
Spring of living water
Endless peace of mind
My point of light

Abbah, Father, Daddy
Perfect, ultimate Friend forever.
My God!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Friend for Life

Faithful to my every need
Righteous and dependable
Inability to ever cause me harm
Eternal so I never am alone
Naturally for me not against
Dependable beyond my greatest need

GOD

©Corinne H. Mustafa



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

WOMB OF GOD

WOMB OF GOD

Beach…Trinidad, California

Corinne Mustafa - December 31, 2000

Walking on the beach in the crystal of a winter sun

Ending 2000 where, for me, it had begun

In Northern California

So quiet and peaceful to enjoy.

I look at the masterpiece before me and

An interesting thought occurs ---

My God must have a million point IQ!

A novel thought - I think, and so will you.

But contemplate on it a bit with me.

As I tour you through

The womb of God.

For who can know the mind of God -

Yhe how and why of things we see each day

And take for granted without even asking why?

How could any mind conceive

The wonders that I’m so enjoying here.

How can it all work together following rules

What no man could formulate or orchestrate

The Genius of the universe devised.

(Eat your heart out you Einsteins of the past)

Not even a million IQ - more like infinite.

But today for some reason the cold, sparkling beauty of this beach

Gives me pause and takes my breath away.

Could it be the unaccustomed chill of a winter day

Not usually associated with a beach?

Where I am usually found in summer’s warmth

Not knowing winter warmth in cold coexists.

Crashing waves.

A faint echo of the roar heard

When the creation of the Universe occurred.

The splendor of God’s boutique shown in full array

Watercolors could be painted on a paper bright-

Blue, turquoise, white, charcoal, and dark olive

moving and catching the light.

Haze hanging low over the cool, unconcerned ocean horizon

Turning azure sky to powder blue out there.

Forming an enclosure to hold it all and me.

The womb of God.

Delicate wind.

Is that the wind gently blowing on my face

Hardly a curl disturbed and still I feel

The coolness blow across my brow -

Could it be the breath of God?

Gritty sand.

Wet from the receding foamy tide.

Some polished and puddled with naught to mar its face.

Some with loss of its pristine plane

Where I spy footprints in the sands of time

Reflecting visitors in this holy place.

Shoe soles plain or boasting of their swirling treads

One set of prints calls to mind the British flag

Have carved a path and some,

In spite of winter chill

Have passed with bare feet to taste the salt and sand.

And paw prints running side by side to shoes

Show others who have come.

I see two of “man’s best friends”

Cavorting, jumping, barking in play

Another braving the freezing waves to get her master’s stick

All part of the ongoing creation

In the womb of God.

Resplendent rocks.

How did you arrive to delight me here?

Silent sentinels

Ancient slides of the land to the sea

Or picked up by mighty waves and dragged to dot the shore.

Or in the ball game of creation I imagine....

Father, did you toss them here?

To add a myriad of colors and shapes

Breathtaking and pleasing to the eye

One particular striated with mottled jade

Fading into a charcoal base

As if two separate pieces conjoined

With its small companion at one side

Contrasting with shades of plumy grays.

Shapeless elephantine hulks

It giving hint of ancient objects long gone

Petrified shapes.

One a Christmas tree with flocked and drooping branches

One huge boulder with two smaller sidekicks

Could be an ancient giant toad

Frozen there before it could ever leap.

And in the tide

Come in little sister stones - tangerine size

Swimming relentlessly towards the beach

Three steps forward two steps back

Pushed in - pulled out by the endless tide.

One by one they finally arrive to shore.

Players in the drama unfolding

In the womb of God.

Aloof island.

Detached about a hundred yards from shore

Do you think yourself better than your land bound cousins

Rock root pounded by the perpetual surf

Keeping guard over your beach

A crew cut crown of evergreens

Reach to heaven and give nest to gulls

Has human foot trod on your granite crag

Or just spied you from the beach

Another puzzle piece of this coastal room

In the womb of God.

And as I stop here looking out to sea

Telling myself that to me

The ocean is the MOST beautiful

Of God’s created beauty.

When other remembered sights

Come to flood my mind

As surely as the waves of this tide coming in.

My mind’s eye sees places, people, and times

Whose memories delight me as they pass:

A spring poppy blazing orange against grass and rocks,

First sight of Yosemite at that vista point,

Cades Cove, the Smokies’ lap of green,

The White Mountains home of New Hampshire’s Old Man,

A dessert garden as spring flower explosions appear,

My husband waiting at the altar - two becoming one

Later years enjoying memories shared,

The sight of my newborn babies - later a grandson,

The smile of a friend when first we meet,

And looking to

Many more untasted treats to come.

How do you choose what is most beautiful

In the womb of God.

And so I stand on my personal, chosen bastion

Cold and hard beneath my feet.

Gazing out on today’s particular view

Thankful for the gift it gives to me

I cannot do much but sing my song

Calling IT the most beautiful

But knowing that there are many sights yet to see

So many experiences left which will delight

As life goes on its daily trek

Just standing in awe and thankfulness

For all that comes from His unbounded IQ

The miracles that continue to unfold

In the womb of God.

Under the cover of wings

Reminds me of Psalm 91:4

He will cover you with his feathers.

He will shelter you with his wings.

His faithful promises are your armor and protection.